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typing with one hand.....other hand is wrapped in toilet paper...some people came over and i really wanted to show off my male indigo....i had some rats in the room earlier in the day, took them out into the garage. i put my hand in some clean aspen bedding and had washed my hands earlier....went to pull him out by his back end had him out and then while i was talking to the guests....WHAM!! ouch that really hurt, no joke. ill tell you what it doesnt look like, not no pin prick marks in the shape of a snakes jaw......uh no......reminds me of when i slipped my waffle blade knife while cutting a short loin back when i was butcher..... its a deep gash almost clear across the under side of my thumb i can see the tendon and bone because he got me right on the under side of my knuckle, i was askin for it. when i first went in i touched him with the snake hook to see if he was in good space and he turned and started chewing on the hook, should have taken that as a no. well i am impressed with the nice slice. it looks like adeep knife cut.This is the first snake bite ive ever had that drew blood, cool eh? so i decided to feed him after that, i think he wanted me to know he was still thinking aboout those rats i had in the room earlier....anybody have any dry bite stories?

PS Fred, it looks exactly like the gash you had that one day, remember?

I am curious; how much, and how long did it bleed? Did it bleed longer than it should have when compared to a similar wound? Just currious.
T.
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"No tree would have branches foolish enough to argue amongst themseleves".

If i slightly bend my thumb it starts leaking again. And it's been about 5 hrs now. I can't bend the thumb at all really. Im thinking of having it looked at because my thumb is numb in some of the are around the cut. Im really suprised how deep it is. Its fairly painful still.

Hi Zach,

I'm sorry about the snake bite. From the description, either you or he pulled away while his jaw was still closed on your thumb. This caused his teeth to saw through your skin. This is the worst thing that can happen.

I don't know why, but whoever I sell adult snakes to gets bit. (Zach's indigos were from my collection). Jeff "epidemic" had the same thing happen to him with a rubidus female he bought from me. I think that the snakes are missing me. They are still upset about leaving my colony. It is touching (to me). I still love and miss them.

Anyways, all of you that seem to think I treat my animals badly for one reason or another (I don't disinfect their cages, I don't clean their cages enough, I feed them chicken necks, I killed some by letting their water run out, etc), well, they never bit me! The last time I was bit was seven years ago (and I had rat scent on my hand).

Joking aside, I tell everyone, and I told you Zach, examine the body language of the snake before you remove them from their cage. When you open the cage of an indigo, they go immediately into hunting mode. Learn to identify what this looks like. Give them a few moments to realize that you are not feeding them. Blow on them with your breath so they will smell you. Don't attempt to pick them up until you are sure they are not hunting anymore.

The male indigo you picked up was either still in hunting mode, or you still had rat scent on your hands. Indigos are extremely agressive hunters. Zach, be more careful OK?

Robert Bruce.

I had a large female Indigo that would eat an ashtray if it smelled like prey. One time a buddy came over after he had fed his snakes, she was lying on the bed and calmly went over and started eating his middle finger. Once prey items were taken into the snake room it was not wise to even consider trying to handle her. Even when not feeding day it was always important for her to smell me and show her my empty hands before trying to handle her.
I've had a lot of aggresive feeding snakes but nothing is like an Indigo.
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Hope this helps.

BigT

Let me first say that you did warn me Robert and you are absolutely right. Second let me say what all people say when they get bit by their snakes...."I was being stupid and it was totally preventable". What i thought i understood was that even if he gave me all the warning signs if i could just get him in my hands and not smell like food he would not bite once im holding him. Nope, not the case at all. He gave me plenty of warning. I just didn't heed the warnings, so i got what i deserved. He probably does miss you Brucie. In my defense though i am taking good care of them. Last night i was at a wedding reception and i noticed my thumb bleeding through the band aid and i thought wouldnt it be cool to have a picture of the wound to show you guys. I was wishing i had a digital camera. So, i got an idea. I went up to the photographer and explained to him the situation and asked if he would mind taking a few pics of my thumb and e-mailing them to me. He agreed and so some time next week i should have a pic for you guys. Funny...

I've been opened up a few times by Drymarchon. The worst was from a big male Eastern (also on the thumb) who had never bitten before in his life. The most frequent offenders have been Yellowtails. They do seem to bleed and itch more than most other colubrid bites. Still doesn't compare to a crotalid bite, though....

The main thing is to resist the urge to yank your hand (or whatever) back when it latches on. That's when you get sliced. Most times they turn loose pretty quickly.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

>>The main thing is to resist the urge to yank your hand (or whatever) back when it latches on. That's when you get sliced. Most times they turn loose pretty quickly.
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I have to do the same when playing with my cat. I am extra carefull not to pull my hand away when she nails me with here claws.

Conrad

In addition to Drymarchon confusing your movement with an incoming meal it's been my experience that males cooled during breeding time are much more likely to bite when disturbed for cage cleaning. I guess it's the "leave me alone" response. Male Texas got me good last March.

I've posted these before.

I certainly understand your bite experience.

My most consistant offender is a Y/T that we call "Surprise". For obvious reasons. He tags me after some time of playing like a "lap snake".

I don't pull back after he's nailed me but it takes a little discipline not to do so. I swear that he's looking at me and smiling as he works his jaws into my flesh. There is really something going on in that small brain of theirs.

Hopefully the pix will suffice..

Regards,
Jeff Nichols

...And the wound proper.

Regards,
Jeff Nichols